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I had the opportunity to sit down with Tim, lead guitarist for Letter Kills during the Warped Tour. I have only recently been introduced to this band and from the first time I heard them, I was completely blown away. This group of up and comers are passionate about their music and don't hold back when performing live. They let everyone in the audience know that they love their craft and our entire team unanimously agree that Letter Kills are one of the music industry's must see bands. Can you describe your sound a little bit? We're basically a rock band. We take from a lot of different sounds in rock, from classic rock, to 80's rock to modern rock. We're just a rock band and a guitar based rock band...so whatever that entails for us. What separates you from the rest? I think right now one of the things that separates us from the rest would be like guitar solos and riffs. Basically there seems to be a lot of bands right now that are out there that have drop tuning and things like that and we're just pretty much straight-ahead rock and roll. What do you do to preserve the integrity of your music? As far as style? The style or just not giving in to what's out there? We just write what we like. I mean, when we started...we have a formula for writing songs that seems to work for us and we just work the different parts of that formula and play with it a little bit and if all five of us can agree on it then it usually sticks. Are there any misconceptions out there about you guys? I'm sure there are. I think that early on a lot of people heard our popier songs, the recording that we had at the time you know, we got kind of thrown together with bands like Finch and the Used and that's partly true but that's not accurate. It's not a true representation of what our sound is. So then, what's the most rock 'n roll thing you've ever done? I play the guitar everyday that's pretty rock 'n roll. [laughs] That's about as rock 'n roll as you can get. So how do you go about song writing? What's the process like? The process usually begins with a riff or a melody. We'll put try to put a second part to it, a verse or a chorus, whatever it is. We'll play around with it and just it all comes together pretty easily I guess... I mean just from the five of us getting together and jamming it out....but it usually begins with a riff or someone will play something and the other guys will catch on and add something to it If you had to teach a music appreciation class, to kids what are the CDs that you would make compulsory for the course? Queen A Day at the Races or no sorry, A Night at the Opera, it's a great album. Ummm [pause] I don't know different things for different reasons... More like old school stuff? Well, not necessarily I'd say that album yeah because a lot of the things that they did on that album that was different for the time period. I would say today there are bands from like Sweden that are doing a lot of cool stuff with mixing and a lot of the metal bands, they have a lot of cool things going on with the production of the album not just with the songwriting but with the mixing as well. I don't know. There's important albums from every time period. If you had to look at who you owe the biggest amount of gratitude for where you are now, who do you think that would be? [pauses] Inside the industry, outside the industry... I don't know, my parents probably, you know cause they, I picked up the guitar at an early age and they always supported me in that. They made sure I had a guitar all the time If you're having a rough day or something, do you turn to music or do you turn to something else? No, I hardly ever turn to music. Music is like a good place for me. If I'm having a rough time, I'd probably, I don't know...in some cases I would. Music is more fun for me...I don't get wrapped up in it; I don't get lost in it. So which would you choose...CSI or the Simpsons? The Simpsons definitely Tell me something about yourself or the band that would surprise your fans? About myself? Yeah...yourself or just the band in general I need to think about this one....[chews on thumbnail] I guess we're not that mysterious What song out there do you think best describes you? What song? Yeah, what song or what lyric? Describes me? You or the band, whatever comes to mind. I can't help you there! Can you name five other bands on the tour? Can I name five other bands on the tour? Yeah. S.T.U.N., the used, Rancid... uh Vendetta Red... um Damone, Matchbook Romance... It's a good thing you came up with a sixth because the used aren't playing here! [laughs] How's the Warped tour experience been for you guys? It's been a blast...a really good time Are you on for the full tour? Yeah Are there any bands that have surprised you or blown you away on the tour? I've seen most of them before but I love Rancid, personally. Somebody in the music industry said to me last week that they look at the Warped tour as a travelling circus. Which act would you be? Oh boy...we're the rock 'n roll. That's a new act. Which band's tour bus do you spend the most time on? Ours! [laughs] Which band has the most girls on their bus? Oh man! I don't know. I can't answer that from personal experience. It's the code! I really haven't been on anyone else's bus! [laughs] Oh really? No Have you experienced anything on Warped that you thought you would never see or get to experience? It's a lot more fun than I thought Everybody looks at the Warped tour as having punk roots to it. Yeah How would you define punk? Punk...I don't even care... I don't even care about labels like punk... like, I like good music. I can't say I know what punk is. I'm going to give you some words, just fill in the blanks ok? I'd rather be dropped by my label than.... I've got to make this good...people are going to read this....Yeah! Lose a limb You wouldn't catch me dead in... [laughs] I want to think of something really cool. I think I'm going to go safe....ummm...a mosh pit Really? No! See it doesn't work!! I wouldn't leave home without my.... Car keys It's better to play Warped than... Than not to I'm a naughty little... Angel Always eat your... Vegetables If you could have any sponsor in the world, who would you choose? Any sponsor? Probably Gibson guitars That's a good one! Has anyone ever asked you a question you didn't want to answer? What was it and do you want to answer it now? How old I am...my age. I guess you don't want to answer it now? Nah! After listening to your album, what do you want people to take away from it? I want them to feel a part of it. I want it to be like, ten years down the road, they can say that album was good to me or that album was...I want them to say ten years down the road that was still my favorite album. Last question...Why should the world care about Letter Kills? I think we have something...I think we have something good to offer music wise, like what we are all about you know? I think we have good music, I'm happy with the music that we make. I think it's fun, I think people can have a good time to it. I think that mmmm I think that people can...hopefully it's not depressing that it can be that album that you listen to when you're down and also when you want to have fun. FIN